Murphy High School (North Carolina)

Murphy High School
Address
Map
234 High School Circle

28906

United States
Coordinates35°06′01″N 84°00′59″W / 35.1003°N 84.0163°W / 35.1003; -84.0163
Information
TypePublic
School districtCherokee County Schools
CEEB code342825
PrincipalWendy Leatherwood
Staff34.16 (FTE)[1]
Grades9–12
Enrollment431 (2023–24)[2]
Student to teacher ratio13.93[1]
Color(s)Black and gold
  
Athletics conferenceSmoky Mountain Conference
MascotBulldog
Nickname'Bulldog Country'
Team nameBulldogs
RivalAndrews High School (North Carolina)
YearbookKanusheta
Websitemhs.cherokee.k12.nc.us

Murphy High School (MHS) is a public high school in Murphy, North Carolina. It serves grades 9–12 and is one of only three high schools in the Cherokee County Schools system.[3] The MHS campus is sandwiched between U.S. Route 19 and the Valley River. The high school shares its campus with Murphy Middle School and the Cherokee County Schools Bus Garage. As of 2007 the school had a full-time teaching staff of 42 teachers giving an average of 12 students per teacher.[3][4] It has a GreatSchools rating of 5/10 and an average community rating of 4/5 stars.[5] In the 2024-25 school year, 437 students were enrolled. The school has a capacity of 746 students.[2]

Drug and tobacco use at MHS is “significantly higher” than at other schools in the district (83% versus 33%), according to a 2024 statewide teacher survey. In addition, physical student conflict was observed by 61% of MHS teachers compared to 35% of educators across the district.[6]

  1. ^ a b "Murphy High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Foster, Randy (September 6, 2023). "Overcrowded with campuses". Cherokee Scout. Murphy, N.C.: Community Newspapers, Inc. p. 9A.
  3. ^ a b "Murphy High School - School Home". Cherokeecounty.nc.schoolwebpages.com. August 19, 2011. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
  4. ^ "Murphy,Elementary School,Cherokee County, North Carolina". Psk12.com. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
  5. ^ "Murphy High School - Murphy, North Carolina - NC - School overview". Greatschools.org. September 7, 2010. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
  6. ^ Foster, Randy (August 21, 2024). "Survey shows most schools – not all – receive good marks". Cherokee Scout. Murphy, NC: Community Newspapers Inc. pp. 1A, 8A. Retrieved August 24, 2024.